Longtime Springfield insider Tom Cullen will face cross-examination Monday in the trial of a former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing House Speaker Michael Madigan by funneling payments the speaker’s ally through Cullen’s lobbying firm.
Cullen, who served for years as one of Madigan’s top political brains before building a lucrative career as a lobbyist, is a key witness against Paul La Schiazza, not only because Cullen was the alleged go-between for illicit payments to retiring state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, but also because of his well-known loyalty to Madigan and intricate knowledge of the speaker’s vaunted political operation.
Cullen testified on direct examination Friday that he was just trying to be a “team player” when he agreed in 2017 to take on Acevedo as an off-the-books consultant as a favor for AT&T, one of his top clients.
But Cullen told the Acevedo was not very pleased with AT&T’s $2,500-a-month offer, even though the job called for little or no work. In fact, Cullen said, after a meeting about the proposal, Acevedo called him and blew his stack.
“He basically said, ‘What the F is goin’ on here? I’m worth more money,’” Cullen testified, adding that his recollection was that Acevedo demanded double what was being offered.
When the prosecutor asked Cullen to use Acevedo’s exact words, Cullen quoted Acevedo as saying, “F— AT&T, they can kiss my ass.’”
On Friday, La Schiazza attorney Tinos Diamantatos said he intends to cross-examine Cullen about his understanding of the legality of the arrangement — a point at the core of the defense theory that what happened was nothing more than the typical relationship building that is necessary in politics, especially when a company is trying to get lawmakers to consider its agenda.
La Schiazza, 66, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in October 2022 with conspiracy, federal program bribery and using a facility in interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity. The most serious counts carry up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty and has been free on bond while his case is pending.
The trial, which could wrap up next week, has offered a sneak peek at evidence that will be presented at Madigan’s own racketeering trial, which kicks off in three weeks.
Cullen, who retired from lobbying earlier this year, told the jury that he received through his attorney a “nontarget letter” from the U.S. attorney’s office in exchange for his testimony, meaning the government acknowledged there was not “substantial proof” he had done something wrong.
Cullen told the jury he never would have hired Acevedo if AT&T hadn’t asked him, citing the Chicago Democrat’s inexperience and penchant for carousing after legislative sessions.
“I didn’t think that he was a serious lobbyist,” Cullen said. “He was brand new, potentially liked to go out and party and drink a lot, so he just wasn’t somebody I wanted to hire.”
Cullen said he understood that the arrangement had been pushed by Michael McClain, a retired lobbyist and close Madigan confidant who had more access to the speaker than nearly anyone else at the Illinois Capitol.
When asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower if he had any reservations about entering into the unusual arrangement, Cullen said, “Somewhat.”
“But I think that I would rather have been a team player than not a team player,” Cullen testified.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman recessed the trial for the week after Cullen’s direct examination, saying the cross-examination will begin first thing Monday morning.
Prosecutors could rest their case as soon as Wednesday.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
